Holly Short flew through the Irish countryside, Foaly's new WhisperWing model whirring at 75 mph. She peered through the gloom, searching for the familiar landmark that was Fowl Manor. Spotting the light on in Artemis' bedroom, Holly slowed her descent and let herself in. She leaped lightly to the ground, a soft tunisian rug covering the oak flooring muffling her steps. The elf glanced at the door, outside, Butler stood guarding his employer and friend. Holly wasn't worried though, he knew she'd be coming. A strangled sob emitted from the heap of blankets on the four poster in the middle of the room.

"Artemis?" Holly whispered. She climbed onto the bed as the Mud Man lifted his head from underneath the tangle of blankets cocooning him.

"Holly!!" Relief was evident in his previously smug and self-satisfied voice, a voice Holly hadn't heard for years. The way Artemis spoke now... It was unguarded, vulnerable, young. Artemis lunged for his friend, arms wrapping immediately around the small frame. Holly returned the hug, though gentler. She moved them to the center of the feather mattress, Artemis burying his face into the crook of her neck.

"Shh... Arty, what is it?" Though it had been seven months since Artemis' soul had combined within the Clone's body, nightmarish memories still plagued the Irish teen.

"H-Hybras... You were stabbed..." Artemis raised his head, his nearly shoulder length black hair sweeping over his eyes. Both blue, now. A tear escaped one of his eyes, trailing wetly down his cheek. Holly raised a hand and gently wiped away the tear, leaving her hand on his face.

"That never happened, Artemis. You saved me back then. You reset the bomb, you saved everyone." A loud sob escaped his lips again.

"I-I know, it's just... Losing you, it felt like a part of me was ripped away." Hearing this, Holly had no response. What was she supposed to say to her best friend, who, under normal circumstances would never had said anything as personal as that? Then again, these weren't normal circumstances.

"It's alright Artemis. I'll... I'll never leave you again."

"Promise?" Artemis whispered, looking down at her earnestly.

"Promise." Artemis nodded and lay down, head in her lap. Holly ran her nimble elfin fingers, one of which had a scar around it, through his silky midnight black hair. Out of nowhere, Holly started to sing the lullaby her own mother, Coral, sang to her many years ago. In gnommish;

I know you're somewhere out there Somewhere far away
I want you back
I want you back
My neighbors think I'm crazy
But they don't understand
You're all I had
You're all I had

Artemis smiled in his sleep, and reached for her hand. Holly let him take it, Artemis' pale hand enveloping her smaller nut colored one.

At night when the stars light up my room
I sit by myself talking to the moon.
Trying to get to you
In hopes you're on the other side talking to me too.
Or am I a fool who sits alone talking to the moon?

Ohoooo...

Holly shifted forward, inch by inch, careful not to wake Artemis.

I'm feeling like I'm famous
The talk of the town
They say I've gone mad
Yeah, I've gone mad
But they don't know what I know
Cause when the sun goes down
Someone's talking back
Yeah, they're talking back
Ohhh

Holly eased Artemis head off her lap and into a nearby pillow. A strand of hair fell over his eyes and she carefully tucked it behind an ear. She paused her singing briefly. "Artemis, I know you, the Real you, is still in there. Please, come back to me. I won't give up on you, Never." Taking a deep breath, Holly started again.

At night when the stars light up my room
I sit by myself talking to the moon.
Trying to get to you
In hopes you're on the other side talking to me too.
Or am I a fool who sits alone talking to the moon?

Holly crawled backwards off the bed. She arranged Artemis' blankets, tucked in the corners, and placed them over his sleeping form.

Ahh... Ahh... Ahh...
Do you ever hear me calling?
(Ahh... Ahh... Ahh...)
Oh ohh oh oh ohhh
'Cause every night I'm talking to the moon

Holly leaned over Artemis, studying his features. Though always refined, his face had always been a little soft and childish. Now, he had retained his father's slender nose and thin black brows, Angeline's full lips and long lashes. He truly looked like a Man. 'I'll have to stop calling you Mudboy,' Holly thought ruefully but kept singing, softly.

Still trying to get to you
In hopes you're on the other side talking to me too
Or am I a fool who sits alone talking to the moon?

Ohoooo...

I know you're somewhere out there
Somewhere far away

As she ended the last notes of the song, the Elf leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to Artemis' forehead, exactly like the one he had given her before meeting Opal and dying. She left the room, closing the door softly behind her. She made her way to Butler's giant form.

"Thank you, Holly." The manservant nodded down at her in thanks. "How was he?" Both he and Holly had started to walk down the hall toward the Study, which Artemis had always occupied before. He himself hadn't set foot in it since his Death, and a fine layer of dust covered the laptops and various equipment neatly put away.

"His nightmares were less intense," Holly said slowly, choosing her words. She didn't want him to know, at least not yet.

"How so?" Butler inquired. He was smart, and had spent a long time with her and knew quite well when Holly was keeping something from him.

"It was just a memory on Hybras. He saw me die but wasn't sure it happened, so I told him it did. According to Artemis himself, anyway." Holly replied, busy preparing her wings for the flight back.

"Mhmm." Butler knew that wasn't all. Something else had happened, he'd even heard the faint sound of singing through the door. "Alright," He said at last. He trusted Holly, if Artemis was in danger she'd tell him. "See you tomorrow."

Holly waved and put on her helmet. Opening her wings, Holly gunned the throttle and disappeared into the night sky. Maybe she could avoid Commander Kelp and be back before he noticed... After all, she'd only been there half the night.